The Caress Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged four years old and older held over a distance of five and one-half furlongs on the turf held annually in July at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.
History
The event is named in honor of mare Caress who won the 1995 Grade III Poker Stakes at Belmont Park defeating male horses and also won the Grade III Beaugay Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The event's inaugural running was on 25 June 2008 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York as the third race on the race card over the seven furlong distance for fillies and mares aged three years old and older and was won by the Stormy West who was ridden by the US Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in a blanket photo finish by a head in a time of 1:21.29.
In 2009 and 2011 the event was run over a shorter distance of six furlongs. The event was not held in 2010.
In 2012 the event was scheduled in August at Saratoga over the sprint distance of furlongs.
In 2016 the event was moved off the turf due to rain affected track and held on a sealed sloppy dirt track.
In 2021 the event was upgraded in classification by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's American Graded Stakes Committee to Grade III. The event would be upgraded again to Grade II for 2026. Records Speed record: furlongs: 1:00.82 Thieves Guild (2015)
Margins: lengths – Miss Ella (2016)
Most wins: 2 – Miss Ella (2016, 2017)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Jack Swain III (2016, 2017)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Irad Ortiz Jr. (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Christophe Clement (2020, 2023, 2024)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Saratoga – Caress Stakes2026Movin' On Up 5Tyler GaffalioneSaffie Joseph Jr. Kenneth L. Ramsey furlongs1:01.04$242,500II 2025Future Is Now 5Paco LopezMichael J. TrombettaThe Estate Of R. Larry Johnson furlongs1:01.08$175,000III2024Dontlookbackatall 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Christophe ClementWest Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing & Titletown Racing Stables furlongs1:01.39$200,000III2023Roses for Debra4Irad Ortiz Jr.Christophe ClementJohn O'Meara furlongs1:02.39$194,000III2022Robin Sparkles5Javier CastellanoBruce R. BrownMichael Schrader furlongs1:01:98$200,000III2021 Caravel4Irad Ortiz Jr. Elizabeth M. Merryman Bobby Flay & Elizabeth M. Merryman furlongs 1:02.38$200,000III2020Cariba 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Cheyenne Stable furlongs1:01.53$200,000Listed2019Mominou 4Kendrick CarmoucheJames J. TonerSean Shay furlongs1:01.54$200,000Listed2018Ruby Notion 5Florent GerouxDarrin Miller Silverton Hill furlongs1:06.43$200,000Listed2017Miss Ella 5Joel RosarioH. Graham Motion Jack Swain III furlongs1:02.30$200,000 2016Miss Ella 4Joel RosarioH. Graham Motion Jack Swain III furlongs1:04.05$98,000 2015Thieves Guild 6 Jose LezcanoJames J. TonerNinety North Racing Stable furlongs1:00.82$98,000 2014Free as a Bird 5Joel RosarioIan R. WilkesElizabeth J. Valando furlongs1:01.98$100,000 2013Silverette 4Robby AlbaradoDale L. RomansPaul P. Pompa Jr. furlongs1:01.27$100,000 2012Rosa Salvaje 4Alex O. SolisLisa LewisWilliam C. Schettine furlongs1:03.50$100,000 Listed At Belmont Park2011 6Robert A. BarbaraJames A. & Jane N. Fraser 6 furlongs1:09.10$60,000 2010Race not held2009Jazzy (ARG) 7Alan GarciaMark A. HennigTeam Valor International 6 furlongs1:12.58$68,200 2008Stormy West 4Kent J. Desormeaux William I. MottDiane & Guy B. Snowden 7 furlongs1:21.29$74,750
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References